Revolving clearer for a textile machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for properly positioning a clearer on a textile machine with respect to the drafting rollers that enables the clearer to be rapidly and easily attached to and removed from the machine. The power to operate the clearer is automatically transmitted from the machine to the clearer after the clearer has been positioned on the machine.

United States Patent [1 1 Murao Sept. 2, 1975 [54] REVOLVING CLEARER FOR A TEXTILE 2,951,268 9/ 1960 West 19/265 X MACHINE [76 lnventor: Yoshio Murao, 55 Masuizumimati, m ry Ex miner-Dorsey Newton Kanazawa, Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Darby & Darby [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 437,865 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for properly positioning a clearer on a tex- [52] US. Cl. 19/265 tile machine with respect to the drafting rollers that [51 Int. Cl. DOll-l 5/64 enables the clearer to be rapidly and easily attached to [58] Field of Search l9/245, 264, 265, 262; and removed from the machine. The power to operate 15/2565, 256.51, 256.52, 256.53 the clearer is automatically transmitted from the machine to the clearer after the clearer has been posi- [56] References Cited tioned on the machine.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Noiles 19/265 X 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 2 I975 SHEETlUfZ PATENTEUSEP 2197s 3, 902 225 sum 2 or 2 I w" "um" FIG.4

IlilEl/ULVING CLEARIEIR FUR A TEXTILE MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The highest quality yarn is obtained when the fibers in the yarn are long, relatively parallel to each other, and free from waste material. These properties produce a yarn that is uniform and smooth, and are greatly enhanced if the fibers are put through a drafting operation. In this operation, the fibers are initially in a loose and untwisted strand of fibers called a sliver. The sliver passes between several pairs of rollers, called drafting rollers, with each pair rotating more rapidly then the preceding pair. This results in the sliver becoming longer and narrower, and in the fibers in the sliver becoming more nearly parallel to each other.

If a high degree of parallelism is obtained, the shorter fibers will drop out of the sliver and be picked up by the drafting rollers. Any other waste material will also drop out and some will be picked up by the drafting rollers. To prevent these waste materials from being picked up by the sliver, it is necessary to remove the waste materials from the drafting rollers and this removal is accomplished by a clearer which comprises an endless cloth around a pair of rollers and means for urging the cloth against the drafting rollers. The resulting sliver, as it is composed of long fibers which are nearly parallel and free from waste materials, is highly uniform and results in a high quality yarn.

Clearers are usually bolted to textile machines and the entire clearer must be removed to replace a used cloth. This is inconvenient and time-consuming and results in decreased use of the machine during the time the clearer is being attached or removed, and increased labor costs. Additional time and labor are usually expended in ensuring that the clearer is properly positioned with respect to the drafting rollers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clearer for a textile machine which can be easily attached to and removed from the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a clearer that is automatically positioned with respect to the drafting rollers when it is attached to the textile machine.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that transmits the power needed to drive the clearer to the clearer without need for further adjustments after the clearer has been positioned with respect to the rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a clearer comprises an endless cloth around two rollers which are joumalled in a frame including two plates. One of the rollers is connected to a pair of levers with at least one of the levers adapted to step the rollers in one direction and thereby rotate the cloth, when the lever is caused to reciprocate. The textile machine includes rocker arms with grooves which receive pins extending from the levers so that the rocker arms can help position the clearer and also reciprocate the levers to rotate the clearer cloth.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the attached drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the present invention; wherein FIG. I is a side elevational view of the clearer;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the portion of the machine on which the clearer is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the clearer mounted on the machine; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the clearer with parts broken away. k

The clearer frame comprises two vertical plates 6 and rollers 20 and 21 rotatably joumalled at opposite ends in the respective plates. An endless clearer cloth 12 is placed around rollers 20 and 211. I-look 40, extending the horizontal length of the clearer, ensures that clearer cloth 12 maintains proper contact with the drafting rollers of the machine shown diagrammatically at 42.

Roller 20 is connected by unidirectional drive means to oppositely disposed, vertical levers 9. Such means, for example, may comprise a central axle 8 secured at its respective ends to levers 9, a ratchet wheel 24 in which axle 8 is journaled, and a pawl 25 pivotally secured to lever 9. The ratchet wheel 24 is fixed to roller 20 so that when lever 9 reciprocates, the pawl 25 intermittently steps ratchet wheel 24 in one direction with a retainer 26 preventing rotation of the wheel 24 in the opposite direction during the return motion of lever 9. At the ends of levers 9 that are not attached to clearer driving axles 8, pins 10 are attached and project outwardly. Attached to and projecting outwardly from the vertical plates of clearer frame 6 are pins 7.

Two brackets l are attached, by any suitable means to the textile machine (not shown). Each bracket 1 has a groove 2 that is of a size suitable to receive pins 7. Brackets l are spaced horizontally from each other on the machine a distance such that pins 7 will fit into grooves 2.

The driving power for the clearer is provided by vertically extending reciprocating arms 3. The other ends of reciprocating arms 3 are attached to a driving means on the machine (such as the diagramatically shown roll 27) which rotates and causes arm 3 to reciprocate vertically. The upper ends of arms 3 are connected to oppositely extending short, horizontal axles 44 at the ends of which extend two rocker arms 4. Rocker arms 4 are pivotally mounted to the textile machine (not shown) by pins 11 which are coaxial with axles 8 when the clearer is properly positioned. Rocker arms 4 include grooves 5 that are adapted to receive pins 10. The rocker arms 4 are spaced horizontally from each other a distance such that pins 10 will fit into grooves 5.

Clearer frame 6 may be placed on the machine and properly set without the necessity of stopping the machine by merely placing clearer pins 7 in grooves 2. For the clearer to operate properly, pins 10 must be in grooves 5. However, pins 10 need not be in the proper position initially. Reciprocating arms 3 move in the vertical direction and rocker arms 4 are caused to pivot or rock about pin lll. Within one cycle of the movement of rocker arms 4, pins 10 will be properly placed within grooves 5.

When pins llfl are located within grooves 5, the levers 9 are forced to move with rocker arms 4 and pivot back and forth. Since the levers 9 are connected by a ratchet and pawl arrangement (or other unidirectional drive means) to roller axle 8., this rocking movement steps the roller 20 in one direction to thereby rotate the clearer cloth l2.

Clearer frame 6 may be removed from the machine by simply lifting it off the machine without any necessity for stopping the machine.

What is claimed is:

l. A clearing apparatus for use with a textile machine having a plurality of drafting rollers, comprising:

a frame;

a pair of rollers journalled in said frame;

an endless clearer cloth around said rollers and adapted to engage said drafting rollers;

a pair of oppositely extending mounting pins extending from said frame and adapted to engage mating grooves in a support member on the machine;

a pair of levers connecting to opposite ends of one of said rollers, at least one of said levers being adapted to incrementally rotate said one roller in one direction when said lever is pivoted back and forth, both of said levers including an outwardly extending mounting pin; and

a pair of rocking members connected to said machine and spaced outside said pair of levers, each of said rocking members including a groove for receiving respective ones of said mounting pins for pivoting said one lever back and forth.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each rocking member of said pair of rocking members includes a curved upper surface adapted to engage said outwardly extending pin and urge said pin toward said groove when the rocking member is rocked. 

1. A clearing apparatus for use with a textile machine having a plurality of drafting rollers, comprising: a frame; a pair of rollers journalled in said frame; an endless clearer cloth around said rollers and adapted to engage said drafting rollers; a pair of oppositely extending mounting pins extending from said frame and adapted to engage mating grooves in a support member on the machine; a pair of levers connecting to opposite ends of one of said rollers, at least one of said levers being adapteD to incrementally rotate said one roller in one direction when said lever is pivoted back and forth, both of said levers including an outwardly extending mounting pin; and a pair of rocking members connected to said machine and spaced outside said pair of levers, each of said rocking members including a groove for receiving respective ones of said mounting pins for pivoting said one lever back and forth.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each rocking member of said pair of rocking members includes a curved upper surface adapted to engage said outwardly extending pin and urge said pin toward said groove when the rocking member is rocked. 